Reasons for why we chose the people we did for our interviews: _Aruni Keenawinna_
The reason why we chose Ms. Keenawinna was because she moved to America, the year of the attack. She was 18 years old and attending Orange Coast College and she was adjusting into living life in the US when the terrorist attack occurred. We wanted to see if she was served injustice or if life was difficult to adjust after the attack.
_Nelson Leon_
The reason why we chose Nelson was because he recently joined the United States National Guard. He is an eighteen year old attending his senior year at Estancia High School. We wanted to know what his expectations were for the war and what prompted him to join the National Guards and if the war in Iraq had any affect on his decision to join the military.
_Chad Kunert_
The reason why we chose Chad was because he was insistent that we listen to his opinions. His answers to our questions were rather confusing considering that he contradicted himself with almost every word he said. We decided to keep his interview because he is like a lot of the teenagers in the U.S and we assume that his thoughts are somewhat similar to those of our generation. He is under our category of the mixed and confused teen.
_Bob Bandauruk_
The reason why we chose Mr. Bandauruk is because he is very outspoken and has a strong political stand point as well as opinions on the war in Iraq. We wanted to show things from a coach's and father's point of view.
_Andrew Parsons_
The reason we chose Mr. Parsons is that his business requires him to travel abroad to many countries. We wanted to see if his job was affected by the attack and how his daily life may have changed. We also wanted to know of his political views on the war in Iraq.
Reasons for our music selections:
We Are All Made of Stars – Moby: This song was written about the September 11 terrorist attack and we felt it had good meaning behind it
Wake Me Up When September Ends – Green Day: The song just made sense to go along with what we are saying
Traveling Soldier – Dixie Chicks: A song about a young romance between two young people, one was enlisted in the Vietnam War and was killed in battle.
MOSH – Eminem: a song about the war on terrorism
Toy Soldier – Eminem: a heart-felt song which we thought related to our interviews
Questions
1. How did your daily life change after 9-11, immediately after the attack happened? How did all those changeds affect how you live your life today?
2. What were your expectations for the war in Iraq?
3. How has this war affected you (your family, job, etc.) *plus since your family was new to the country, how did it change his opinions about the US, etc.
4. What are your thoughts on our current state in Iraq and the state our country is in?
5. How have your political views changed since the beginning of the war? Write-Up
The people that we interviewed were chosen for specific reasons. A lot of things happened on 9/11 and problems were brought up; racial issues, money problems and etc. Through these interviews we wanted to know what had happened and what had changed. We found that the September eleventh, terrorist attack did not really have an effect on people's day to day lives, but it still had an impact on how they felt about the United States. A lot of people just thought oh it's the U.S, no one can get them and we thought the same - nobody ever really expected to wake up one morning and see airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center. When we asked our interviewees their opinions on the war in Iraq, we received diverse answers. Aruni and Andy Parsons gave us a view from the anti-war party, Nelson Leon told us of his excitement toward going. Chad and Coach Bob both gave their opinions stating that the war in Iraq was what was meant to happen. When asked what they were expecting out of the war, Chad, Nelson and Coach bob thought that it was going to be a quick battle and both explained that for most objectives to work in war you need to wait a couple of years to get the job done. Aruni and Andy Parsons both thought that this war was unnecessary and they both expected pain and a lot of controversy. Nelson couldn’t wait to get out there and join the battle. He thought it would be quick but now as it continues, he realizes that it has to be long and that you can’t just end something like this.
Most of them agreed that the 9/11 was what spooked them into living life to the fullest and also brought about their own thoughts and feelings on what was really happening in the United States. Family was very important to all the interviewees. They thought mostly about their families’ well-being. Racial issues were brought about and that caused a fear to arise in people from foreign countries. Fear was new to them. They were scared for their families and for themselves. America was vulnerable, it could be attacked and people were in danger at any moment. Nobody could trust anyone and that caused rifts in people of different faiths. Air Travel was no longer safe. But through all that, they learned to accept what happened and like most people do tried to get on with their lives. They didn't forget what happened but when it happened - everyone was dramatic and our country reached out and supported those people who lost loved ones in the crash. Everyone got back on their feet. The war may have had a change in many people’s behavior. Many thought that the war was to prove that this did not bring them down and they needed to show them that they were still strong. The war and 9/11 is something most of us will remember for a long time. The event sparked a war that is now so old that many don’t even think about it anymore.
This project made us interview ourselves and made us think about the war in Iraq. We had a lot of the same answers and we had fun. This project made us realize that we cannot just brush aside the serious issues all around us. It made us think about our own opinions on politics and government. We had a fun time interviewing people and we learned much from it. Interviews Aruni Keenawinna Hiranya-My name is Hiranya Keenawinna and I’m conducting an interview with my sister Aruni Keenawinna. Aruni- Well 9/11 came as a big shock of course to all of us because we didn’t think it could happen to a country like this. Therefore I’d say my life changed drastically in the sense that there was a new sense of fear that I didn’t know would come about, would actually come about living in the United States. And that’s just the general fear that everybody had. In addition to that I also had a new sense of awareness about other cultures because and the differences we had between them and how it was the differences and how it was affecting the way of life, you don’t think that stuff like this happens but it does and it takes something as big as 9/11 to make people see thing in a different light. I think the biggest difference however was the fear, there is so much fear now than there ever was and the security, the sense of security that everybody had its diminished drastically and this is more so for foreigners, for people from other countries, Asians, people from the middle east, rather than Caucasians, yes granted Caucasians do also fear
The same amount of fear, it is mainly the foreign population that is being targeted and being suspected of crimes and so the focus automatically comes to foreigners and therefore there is that additional sense of fear, that victimization that we feel as well. Hiranya- What were your expectations to the war in Iraq? Aruni- The war in Iraq, honestly, my opinion was that it was unnecessary, there’s a lot of speculation, there are of course two sides to it; people that do support the war, people that don’t. I pick, I’m not particular strong on either side however I will say that I believe that it was unnecessary in the sense that if the speculation, if the stories and the general concept is true that there was no intention of us going and solving the problems in Iraq of the tyranny, of getting rid of the tyranny, it was more so a case of controlling the oil industry then yes I do think it was unnecessary severely because of the fact that so many lives were taken just to get that control, just to move up in the political ladder. However I do also understand the other side in that being one of the most powerful nations in the world, America does also need to control and some of the assets in order to help other nations, so I am essentially in the middle because I see both sides of it. I neither disagree nor agree completely or whole-heartedly with either side. I choose to take the good points, the pros of both side and for my opinion which I just stated. Hiranya- How has this war affected you, your family and job and since you are new to this country, how did it change your opinions about the US?
Aruni- The war in Iraq hasn’t changed my life drastically, not as much as 9/11 did because I think after nine eleven people became more aware of there surroundings and more aware of politics and so Iraq generally, there was so much hype around the war in Iraq, it didn’t really affect us. We were aware of it yes but the fact that it was taking place in another country and the fact that because it was taking place in another country it didn’t directly affect our well being, our safety wasn’t affected as much I don’t think for that reason I don’t think that it affected me as much as nine eleven did however that’s not to say that I’m partially that I’m cold to what to the people that are risking their lives for this. I am saddened by the lives lost because a similar situation course took place in my country, in Sri Lanka and we lived with war for over close to twenty years and so I guess it’s more of a case of being immune to it, to the situation just before cause I did come form a country where we were surrounded by war but like I said again nine eleven opened my eyes to a lot of things that were different and it opened my eyes to like I said differences in cultures so it didn’t affect me as much as nine eleven did I was pretty much immune like I said. Hiranya- What are your thoughts on the current state in Iraq and the state our country is in? Aruni- The current state in Iraq, I cannot say for certain because I’m not, I don’t necessarily keep tabs on how we are doing in terms of military personal count and how many people are dying each and every day, I do know that the numbers are of course increasing everyday and I just all I can say at this point is that I just wish for an agreement to be made, some sort of settlement to come about so that the war essentially can stop and that there would be peace, I mean Iraq is a country, it is an entity on its own and should therefore be allowed to govern themselves. That’s what I would want to come about in the end, that’s the end result that I would wish for and for American soldiers to return home safe. Hiranya- How have your political views changed since the beginning of the war? Aruni- My political views um let’s see, like I said it again ties into the previous question that you asked to me, about the war in Iraq in that, let’s see, again it’s divided I neither support nor do I disagree with what happened . My political views remain such that if it were it were done, if the war was made for the sole purpose of gaining control, of gaining economic and political control over another country’s resources then I believe that it could have been done in a more civilized way because to me war and to actually disguise it in the form of wanting to control tyranny and terrorism if that were the case then that is wrong because like I said if it was to control the resources then it could have been done in a much more peaceful and civilized way without real lives having to be, not having to be sacrificed nor infrastructure the country itself or the amount of money that we actually spent Hiranya- Thank you for your time Aruni Keenawinna. This concludes our interview. The time is now 6:14 PM.
Chad Kunert Jackie- How did your daily life change after nine eleven directly after the attack? Chad- Well the only thing that really changed from my daily life was when I went on vacation, airport security I mean come on like an hour to get through. That’s like the only thing. But the good thing is I feel more secure and that’s about it. I’m not sure what else. Jackie- What were your expectations for the war in Iraq? Chad- I was expecting that we were gonna go in there and do a quick job and get out. Two years later I still think that cause two years isn’t a lot for a war if you think about it I mean World War I was 4 years, World War II was 6 years, the hundred year war was obviously a hundred years so you know if you average it all you still have about three years in Iraq. You know if we really want to do the job right. Jackie- How has this war affected you, your family, your job? Chad- Well if you look historically war has always been a boost to this economy and obviously you can look at that in my paycheck because this economy is really great. Eleven thousand is what the do hones closed in yesterday; I’m just saying that was pretty good. Except for one presence hasn’t been achieved. Wait I’m not done. I have paid a lot of taxes lately but social security man I’m just a little pissed off at that. I mean God, I mean like okay I mean social security like 80 percent of what I pay in taxes if for social security I mean like I know my grandparents collect it and all but actually they’re dead so I don’t collect it so my money’s going to some random old person, I don’t feel right about that, I’d rather have it go to me. Jackie- What are your thoughts on the current state in Iraq and the state our country is in? Chad- Our country is in great shape right now after all I said before the Dow Jones closed at eleven thousand yesterday, that’s pretty good because economic development in the last quarter you know, quarterly profits are up, employment’s up. I’d say we’re in pretty good shape oh and the European Union is a bunch of socialist commies. Clinton for president y’all I’m out. Jackie- Do you think President Bush is doing a good job carrying everyone through the war? Chad- You know what if he could learn how to speak then I wouldn’t mind but then you know the guy is a freaking moron I mean you overestimated, what was that one word oh right you mis-underestimated me, I’m like mis-underestimated, okay mis is a negative and un is a negative so we estimated you that doesn’t make sense. I mean you put two negatives together it’s a positive right? So we estimated you I don’t get how he can estimate him obviously we can estimate that he’s a freaking moron but you know dang man. Jackie- So do you think that things would have turned out differently if a different president like Al gore do you think things would have turned out differently? Chad- Well honestly I think Gore just kinda kissed the terrorist’s butts and said some kind of political bs like well terrorists are people too even though they are driving little s.o.b. who wanna kill everybody especially western democracy you know. Jackie- So you’re saying it’s like a lose-lose situation either way? Chad- No it’s not a lose-lose situation, we would all be dead now if Gore was president. I’m not kidding. You have no idea, we would all be dead a planet would have landed in my front yard, I might have survived but everyone else would have died I’m sure Jackie- So you agree with Bush? Chad- I guess so. Jackie- Agree to what? Chad- Not a moron exactly. I don’t know all politicians are morons. They should not put morons on Capital Hill. I’ve said that time and time again. Jackie-How did your day to day life change after nine eleven? Chad- Well I am an under aged adult so my life hasn’t really changed that much. I mean during security at Disneyland and all that, there’s a lot more obviously but it’s a good thing as it adds to our protection so overall life hasn’t changed that much. It hasn’t made that much of an impact on me although I’m sure it has on the military. Jackie- what were your expectations for the war in Iraq when it first started? Chad- I was basically expecting that we were going to go in and do a quick clean-up job you know out some dictators, free some slaves, maybe get some oil on the side you know. But that hasn’t all happened yet we haven’t gotten all the oil. Jackie- So what are your views now that it’s been a few years? Chad- My views haven’t changed that much so I’m still in support of the war. Still like what we are doing there, I think it’s gonna work out because when those whiny liberals on Capital Hill try and claim that it’s another Vietnam war and that we’re never going to win you know seriously what college did they go to? I mean we’ve already kicked out Saddam Hussein, we’re establishing elections. This is nothing like Vietnam and it’s no jungle. Jackie- How have your political views changed since the beginning of the war? Chad- My political views haven’t changed that much. I’m still considering moderate because I do have some conservative viewpoints and some liberal viewpoints however nope I can’t really say they’ve changed. I could try to elaborate on this but you know what things are going good.
Bob Banduruk Shannon- Has you life changed after nine eleven directly after the attack? Bob- How did it change? I don’t know that it changed maybe a little bit more paranoid. other than maybe a bit more wary of how things are going on. Shannon-What were your expectations for the war in Iraq when it first began? Bob-There was no expectations in short or long. We are not going in there to just, you know, blow up some things and get out. you know, we had to turn over a whole other country. What’s going on right now is what I expected. Shannon-How has this affected your family, job, or life in general? Bob-Well, I don't think it has Shannon-What are your thoughts on our current state in Iraq and the current state our country is in? Bob- I think we are in a great state right now. Everything is going well for me, nothing is bad. The economy is doing well; we are doing well over there. We were in Germany until now; we're still there! In Germany, we're still there! How long were we in Japan? So I think we are doing fine. Shannon-Have your political views changed at all since the beginning of the war? Bob- They are more harsh. You know I think we need to shut the borders, and do all that stuff, yes. I have also become more harsh against the liberalism that has taken over this country. You know, I think that they have allowed us to get to the situation where terrorists are flourishing in this world. Part 2- Jackie- How did your daily life change after 9-11 directly after the attack? Bob-I don't think that my daily life has changed. I think that everything has pretty much stayed the same/ Chelsea-What were your expectations for the war in Iraq? Bob-Um, I thought we would do as we did. We went in and destroyed the enemy. Jackie-How has this war affected your family, life job, etc.? Bob-I think that the military has kept it from influencing my family or having any problems over here, because, we took care of it over there where it belongs. Chelsea- What are your thoughts on our current state in Iraq and the current state our country is in? Bob-Um, I think we have done a very good job. We have helped them set up 3 elections, and we are helping them set up their own democracy. And I think that again, by our country being over there, taking care of this, we are keeping the killers from being in our country and harassing us over here. Jackie- How have your political views changed since the beginning of the war? Bob- I don't know that they have changed, but they have strengthened. We are the greatest country in the history of the world and that the men and women that represent ourselves out there that are fighting the war for us, are the greatest volunteer army that has ever been out there.
Nelson Leon Chelsea-How did your day to day life change after 9-11 Nelson- It didn't really Chelsea- What were your expectations Nelson- Get in, kill people, get out, war's over. No, but seriously. When the war first began, I figured it would be a quick victory, I mean, he wasn't requesting much money at first. it was something like 7 billion dolars or something to begin with. We are the greatest country in the world. Iraq, who were they you know? just go and beat them up, get done with things you know? Chelsea- How has the war affected you, your family, your job, etc. if at all? Nelson- it hasn't affected me in any way so far. Until i get deployed and then probably my family will be devastated because i am probably going to die. yeah, and all that good stuff like that. My job. Haha, that’s funny . I am in the National Guard and I am going to be a medic. 91 Whiskey is my Mos. That’s cool sounding. That means that I am a healthcare specialist. It hasn’t affected me yet. Unless I get deployed, probably to Iraq. I am probably going to die, and my family will miss me. Chelsea- NESLON!!! Nelson- I want to die saving someone. I wanna go plugging their artery and I am going to get shot, and he is going to live, and he is going to remember me for the rest of their life. Chelsea- You haven't mentioned that you were in the military yet. Nelson- Oh, yeah, I'm in the national guard. I'm a medic and I ship out July 11th. and then I come back in February. So the war hasn’t affected me yet. Chelsea- What are your thoughts on our current state in Iraq, and the current state our country is in: government, economics? Nelson- Well I haven't been doing my econ homework, so I really wouldn't know [laughs]. yeah, I’m pretty behind in government too. but, I can't wait to go, and save some lives. and kick some butt. But I really wouldn’t know, I'm not up to date on my government homework. I just can’t wait to go Chelsea- Why? Nelson- Because it’s boring here. I would rather fight for my country, instead of sitting around here going to school. I can do that after I get back. Then I will have stories to tell my grandkids “when I was an old man……” Chelsea- How have your political views changed since the beginning of the war? Nelson- I really don't have specific political views. but I would have to say that I have had a Republican influence growing up, but throughout the course of the war, everything totally changed around. High school and my history teachers have changed my views. Mr. Schilling helped me out with that. Democrat all the way now. Chelsea- Do you think that if the war wasn't happening, that you would still join the military? Nelson- yeah definitely. My GI bill is incredible. I mean its paying for my college, I will be a fire fighter when I get out. And actually, I'm going to college at the same time that I am in the military so, it works out. I have so many benefits. I can use my military discount everywhere. And you know I Hop 50%! Haha, that’s enough for me to join. No but seriously, they are paying full tuition for college Santa Ana College, and then the college of my choice. All I have to do I sign my life away for 6 six years. Haha, whatever its cool. One weekend a month, 2 weeks in the summer. Unless I get deployed, then it’s however long that takes. Chelsea- Has the course of the war and the things that have happened in our country and in Iraq changed your opinion about the war? Nelson- Sure, I mean at first we had like 7 billion dollars, but then he asked for more money and asked for more money, and then more money. It’s getting kind of expensive. [laughs]. What was the question again? No I still support the war. It’s something that has to be done. A lot of people say that this isn't our war, well, people, know that they need to be free. I don’t believe that people. What was the question again? Ok so no not really.
Nelson- Sure, I mean at first we had like 7 billion dollars, but then he asked for more money and asked for more money, and then more money. It’s getting kind of expensive.
Andy Parsons Shannon- How did your day-to-day life change, directly after the attacks?
Andy –Well I travel quite a bit in my career, so after that attack occurred, all air traffic suddenly stopped all over the country so a lot of the business commitments that I made had to be suddenly changed. So that was the most immediate affect it had from a practical point of view. But I remember looking at those planes crashing into those buildings and realizing that life as we had known it up to that point was going to change forever. And that we would never be able to have the same degree of freedom or the ability to move around without some degree of suspicion, particularly on aircrafts and I remember thinking how diabolical it was that someone had used civilian aircraft as weapons and how that something that we had taken for totally granted as a normal way to travel was taken away from us because we would always be under suspicion that we might be doing the same thing that those terrorists did. But uh, being able to move about freely was somewhat restricted for a long time after that and there was a lot of anxiety and free when you would go to the airport, wondering if you were gonna have somebody on the plane with you that was planning some similar kind of attack. So there was always a degree of suspicion and fear that was surrounding every business trip that I took, at least for the first year. So it really had a big impact s far as the ability to be able to travel and do my job. Even taking my family on vacation was something that I always felt, am I taking an unnecessary risk by doing that. So I guess in some respects, the intention they had to create fear around the country was successful for a while. But I also remember deciding that was not going to let those kind of people have an impact on my ultimate ability to live my life. So I decided to not let that bother me and to try to look at this a bit more philosophically and not let fear overcome the need to live our lives and so that’s the reason why I decided not to let it get me down too much. It also had an affect with on to day to day life with respect to just being at work and a lot of worries about people who might try to break into our building, and cause some damage or some kind if attack on our building. I remember the guards checking my badge when I drove into the driveway, which is ridiculous because they know me very well, but they were so freaked out after the attack that they were checking everybody’s badge just to see everybody who was going in there. So having to confront fear and overcome was certainly one of the biggest challenges we faced. I also knew people who were directly affected by this as well, I knew someone whose son was in the towers when it happened, fortunately he was able to escape. And I also have one of the people who works in my group who lives very near the trade center she went through a very traumatic time period when it was a very scary and very real reminder everyday when she looked over to where those towers used to be and she just saw smoke pouring out of the ground so I had a bit closer view of it than a lot of people did just because of a lot of the people that I know. And then I bet about 4 or 5 months after the attack I actually visited the ground zero site and saw with my own eyes the damage and destruction that had happened so it was a very sobering thing and it was something that shook people to the core I think when they saw what had happened.
Shannon- What were your expectations for the war in Iraq when it first began?
Andy- Well, I was extremely unhappy about the prospect of us going to war in Iraq, I was against it, I was very outspoken in my belief that it was a big mistake. I did not see any corrolation between what happened on Spet. 11th and what was going on in Iraq. I felt it was so obvious that the whole thing was largely contrived and I felt that we were being misled and I felt helpless because we had established a lot of capital, or credibility, or sympathy if you will, with countries
911 Interviews
Who We Interviewed
Our Music Selections
Our Questions
Our Write Up
The Interviews
Presentation
Reasons for why we chose the people we did for our interviews:
_Aruni Keenawinna_
The reason why we chose Ms. Keenawinna was because she moved to America, the year of the attack. She was 18 years old and attending Orange Coast College and she was adjusting into living life in the US when the terrorist attack occurred. We wanted to see if she was served injustice or if life was difficult to adjust after the attack.
_Nelson Leon_
The reason why we chose Nelson was because he recently joined the United States National Guard. He is an eighteen year old attending his senior year at Estancia High School. We wanted to know what his expectations were for the war and what prompted him to join the National Guards and if the war in Iraq had any affect on his decision to join the military.
_Chad Kunert_
The reason why we chose Chad was because he was insistent that we listen to his opinions. His answers to our questions were rather confusing considering that he contradicted himself with almost every word he said. We decided to keep his interview because he is like a lot of the teenagers in the U.S and we assume that his thoughts are somewhat similar to those of our generation. He is under our category of the mixed and confused teen.
_Bob Bandauruk_
The reason why we chose Mr. Bandauruk is because he is very outspoken and has a strong political stand point as well as opinions on the war in Iraq. We wanted to show things from a coach's and father's point of view.
_Andrew Parsons_
The reason we chose Mr. Parsons is that his business requires him to travel abroad to many countries. We wanted to see if his job was affected by the attack and how his daily life may have changed. We also wanted to know of his political views on the war in Iraq.
Reasons for our music selections:
Questions
1. How did your daily life change after 9-11, immediately after the attack happened? How did all those changeds affect how you live your life today?
2. What were your expectations for the war in Iraq?
3. How has this war affected you (your family, job, etc.) *plus since your family was new to the country, how did it change his opinions about the US, etc.
4. What are your thoughts on our current state in Iraq and the state our country is in?
5. How have your political views changed since the beginning of the war?
Write-Up
The people that we interviewed were chosen for specific reasons. A lot of things happened on 9/11 and problems were brought up; racial issues, money problems and etc. Through these interviews we wanted to know what had happened and what had changed. We found that the September eleventh, terrorist attack did not really have an effect on people's day to day lives, but it still had an impact on how they felt about the United States. A lot of people just thought oh it's the U.S, no one can get them and we thought the same - nobody ever really expected to wake up one morning and see airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center. When we asked our interviewees their opinions on the war in Iraq, we received diverse answers. Aruni and Andy Parsons gave us a view from the anti-war party, Nelson Leon told us of his excitement toward going. Chad and Coach Bob both gave their opinions stating that the war in Iraq was what was meant to happen. When asked what they were expecting out of the war, Chad, Nelson and Coach bob thought that it was going to be a quick battle and both explained that for most objectives to work in war you need to wait a couple of years to get the job done. Aruni and Andy Parsons both thought that this war was unnecessary and they both expected pain and a lot of controversy. Nelson couldn’t wait to get out there and join the battle. He thought it would be quick but now as it continues, he realizes that it has to be long and that you can’t just end something like this.
Most of them agreed that the 9/11 was what spooked them into living life to the fullest and also brought about their own thoughts and feelings on what was really happening in the United States. Family was very important to all the interviewees. They thought mostly about their families’ well-being. Racial issues were brought about and that caused a fear to arise in people from foreign countries. Fear was new to them. They were scared for their families and for themselves. America was vulnerable, it could be attacked and people were in danger at any moment. Nobody could trust anyone and that caused rifts in people of different faiths. Air Travel was no longer safe. But through all that, they learned to accept what happened and like most people do tried to get on with their lives. They didn't forget what happened but when it happened - everyone was dramatic and our country reached out and supported those people who lost loved ones in the crash. Everyone got back on their feet. The war may have had a change in many people’s behavior. Many thought that the war was to prove that this did not bring them down and they needed to show them that they were still strong. The war and 9/11 is something most of us will remember for a long time. The event sparked a war that is now so old that many don’t even think about it anymore.
This project made us interview ourselves and made us think about the war in Iraq. We had a lot of the same answers and we had fun. This project made us realize that we cannot just brush aside the serious issues all around us. It made us think about our own opinions on politics and government. We had a fun time interviewing people and we learned much from it.
Interviews
Aruni Keenawinna
Hiranya-My name is Hiranya Keenawinna and I’m conducting an interview with my sister Aruni Keenawinna.
Aruni- Well 9/11 came as a big shock of course to all of us because we didn’t think it could happen to a country like this. Therefore I’d say my life changed drastically in the sense that there was a new sense of fear that I didn’t know would come about, would actually come about living in the United States. And that’s just the general fear that everybody had. In addition to that I also had a new sense of awareness about other cultures because and the differences we had between them and how it was the differences and how it was affecting the way of life, you don’t think that stuff like this happens but it does and it takes something as big as 9/11 to make people see thing in a different light. I think the biggest difference however was the fear, there is so much fear now than there ever was and the security, the sense of security that everybody had its diminished drastically and this is more so for foreigners, for people from other countries, Asians, people from the middle east, rather than Caucasians, yes granted Caucasians do also fear
The same amount of fear, it is mainly the foreign population that is being targeted and being suspected of crimes and so the focus automatically comes to foreigners and therefore there is that additional sense of fear, that victimization that we feel as well.
Hiranya- What were your expectations to the war in Iraq?
Aruni- The war in Iraq, honestly, my opinion was that it was unnecessary, there’s a lot of speculation, there are of course two sides to it; people that do support the war, people that don’t. I pick, I’m not particular strong on either side however I will say that I believe that it was unnecessary in the sense that if the speculation, if the stories and the general concept is true that there was no intention of us going and solving the problems in Iraq of the tyranny, of getting rid of the tyranny, it was more so a case of controlling the oil industry then yes I do think it was unnecessary severely because of the fact that so many lives were taken just to get that control, just to move up in the political ladder. However I do also understand the other side in that being one of the most powerful nations in the world, America does also need to control and some of the assets in order to help other nations, so I am essentially in the middle because I see both sides of it. I neither disagree nor agree completely or whole-heartedly with either side. I choose to take the good points, the pros of both side and for my opinion which I just stated.
Hiranya- How has this war affected you, your family and job and since you are new to this country, how did it change your opinions about the US?
Aruni- The war in Iraq hasn’t changed my life drastically, not as much as 9/11 did because I think after nine eleven people became more aware of there surroundings and more aware of politics and so Iraq generally, there was so much hype around the war in Iraq, it didn’t really affect us. We were aware of it yes but the fact that it was taking place in another country and the fact that because it was taking place in another country it didn’t directly affect our well being, our safety wasn’t affected as much I don’t think for that reason I don’t think that it affected me as much as nine eleven did however that’s not to say that I’m partially that I’m cold to what to the people that are risking their lives for this. I am saddened by the lives lost because a similar situation course took place in my country, in Sri Lanka and we lived with war for over close to twenty years and so I guess it’s more of a case of being immune to it, to the situation just before cause I did come form a country where we were surrounded by war but like I said again nine eleven opened my eyes to a lot of things that were different and it opened my eyes to like I said differences in cultures so it didn’t affect me as much as nine eleven did I was pretty much immune like I said.
Hiranya- What are your thoughts on the current state in Iraq and the state our country is in?
Aruni- The current state in Iraq, I cannot say for certain because I’m not, I don’t necessarily keep tabs on how we are doing in terms of military personal count and how many people are dying each and every day, I do know that the numbers are of course increasing everyday and I just all I can say at this point is that I just wish for an agreement to be made, some sort of settlement to come about so that the war essentially can stop and that there would be peace, I mean Iraq is a country, it is an entity on its own and should therefore be allowed to govern themselves. That’s what I would want to come about in the end, that’s the end result that I would wish for and for American soldiers to return home safe.
Hiranya- How have your political views changed since the beginning of the war?
Aruni- My political views um let’s see, like I said it again ties into the previous question that you asked to me, about the war in Iraq in that, let’s see, again it’s divided I neither support nor do I disagree with what happened . My political views remain such that if it were it were done, if the war was made for the sole purpose of gaining control, of gaining economic and political control over another country’s resources then I believe that it could have been done in a more civilized way because to me war and to actually disguise it in the form of wanting to control tyranny and terrorism if that were the case then that is wrong because like I said if it was to control the resources then it could have been done in a much more peaceful and civilized way without real lives having to be, not having to be sacrificed nor infrastructure the country itself or the amount of money that we actually spent
Hiranya- Thank you for your time Aruni Keenawinna. This concludes our interview. The time is now 6:14 PM.
Chad Kunert
Jackie- How did your daily life change after nine eleven directly after the attack?
Chad- Well the only thing that really changed from my daily life was when I went on vacation, airport security I mean come on like an hour to get through. That’s like the only thing. But the good thing is I feel more secure and that’s about it. I’m not sure what else.
Jackie- What were your expectations for the war in Iraq?
Chad- I was expecting that we were gonna go in there and do a quick job and get out. Two years later I still think that cause two years isn’t a lot for a war if you think about it I mean World War I was 4 years, World War II was 6 years, the hundred year war was obviously a hundred years so you know if you average it all you still have about three years in Iraq. You know if we really want to do the job right.
Jackie- How has this war affected you, your family, your job?
Chad- Well if you look historically war has always been a boost to this economy and obviously you can look at that in my paycheck because this economy is really great. Eleven thousand is what the do hones closed in yesterday; I’m just saying that was pretty good. Except for one presence hasn’t been achieved. Wait I’m not done. I have paid a lot of taxes lately but social security man I’m just a little pissed off at that. I mean God, I mean like okay I mean social security like 80 percent of what I pay in taxes if for social security I mean like I know my grandparents collect it and all but actually they’re dead so I don’t collect it so my money’s going to some random old person, I don’t feel right about that, I’d rather have it go to me.
Jackie- What are your thoughts on the current state in Iraq and the state our country is in?
Chad- Our country is in great shape right now after all I said before the Dow Jones closed at eleven thousand yesterday, that’s pretty good because economic development in the last quarter you know, quarterly profits are up, employment’s up. I’d say we’re in pretty good shape oh and the European Union is a bunch of socialist commies. Clinton for president y’all I’m out.
Jackie- Do you think President Bush is doing a good job carrying everyone through the war?
Chad- You know what if he could learn how to speak then I wouldn’t mind but then you know the guy is a freaking moron I mean you overestimated, what was that one word oh right you mis-underestimated me, I’m like mis-underestimated, okay mis is a negative and un is a negative so we estimated you that doesn’t make sense. I mean you put two negatives together it’s a positive right? So we estimated you I don’t get how he can estimate him obviously we can estimate that he’s a freaking moron but you know dang man.
Jackie- So do you think that things would have turned out differently if a different president like Al gore do you think things would have turned out differently?
Chad- Well honestly I think Gore just kinda kissed the terrorist’s butts and said some kind of political bs like well terrorists are people too even though they are driving little s.o.b. who wanna kill everybody especially western democracy you know.
Jackie- So you’re saying it’s like a lose-lose situation either way?
Chad- No it’s not a lose-lose situation, we would all be dead now if Gore was president. I’m not kidding. You have no idea, we would all be dead a planet would have landed in my front yard, I might have survived but everyone else would have died I’m sure
Jackie- So you agree with Bush?
Chad- I guess so.
Jackie- Agree to what?
Chad- Not a moron exactly. I don’t know all politicians are morons. They should not put morons on Capital Hill. I’ve said that time and time again.
Jackie-How did your day to day life change after nine eleven?
Chad- Well I am an under aged adult so my life hasn’t really changed that much. I mean during security at Disneyland and all that, there’s a lot more obviously but it’s a good thing as it adds to our protection so overall life hasn’t changed that much. It hasn’t made that much of an impact on me although I’m sure it has on the military.
Jackie- what were your expectations for the war in Iraq when it first started?
Chad- I was basically expecting that we were going to go in and do a quick clean-up job you know out some dictators, free some slaves, maybe get some oil on the side you know. But that hasn’t all happened yet we haven’t gotten all the oil.
Jackie- So what are your views now that it’s been a few years?
Chad- My views haven’t changed that much so I’m still in support of the war. Still like what we are doing there, I think it’s gonna work out because when those whiny liberals on Capital Hill try and claim that it’s another Vietnam war and that we’re never going to win you know seriously what college did they go to? I mean we’ve already kicked out Saddam Hussein, we’re establishing elections. This is nothing like Vietnam and it’s no jungle.
Jackie- How have your political views changed since the beginning of the war?
Chad- My political views haven’t changed that much. I’m still considering moderate because I do have some conservative viewpoints and some liberal viewpoints however nope I can’t really say they’ve changed. I could try to elaborate on this but you know what things are going good.
Bob Banduruk
Shannon- Has you life changed after nine eleven directly after the attack?
Bob- How did it change? I don’t know that it changed maybe a little bit more paranoid. other than maybe a bit more wary of how things are going on.
Shannon-What were your expectations for the war in Iraq when it first began?
Bob-There was no expectations in short or long. We are not going in there to just, you know, blow up some things and get out. you know, we had to turn over a whole other country. What’s going on right now is what I expected.
Shannon-How has this affected your family, job, or life in general?
Bob-Well, I don't think it has
Shannon-What are your thoughts on our current state in Iraq and the current state our country is in?
Bob- I think we are in a great state right now. Everything is going well for me, nothing is bad. The economy is doing well; we are doing well over there. We were in Germany until now; we're still there! In Germany, we're still there! How long were we in Japan? So I think we are doing fine.
Shannon-Have your political views changed at all since the beginning of the war?
Bob- They are more harsh. You know I think we need to shut the borders, and do all that stuff, yes. I have also become more harsh against the liberalism that has taken over this country. You know, I think that they have allowed us to get to the situation where terrorists are flourishing in this world.
Part 2-
Jackie- How did your daily life change after 9-11 directly after the attack?
Bob-I don't think that my daily life has changed. I think that everything has pretty much stayed the same/
Chelsea-What were your expectations for the war in Iraq?
Bob-Um, I thought we would do as we did. We went in and destroyed the enemy.
Jackie-How has this war affected your family, life job, etc.?
Bob-I think that the military has kept it from influencing my family or having any problems over here, because, we took care of it over there where it belongs.
Chelsea- What are your thoughts on our current state in Iraq and the current state our country is in?
Bob-Um, I think we have done a very good job. We have helped them set up 3 elections, and we are helping them set up their own democracy. And I think that again, by our country being over there, taking care of this, we are keeping the killers from being in our country and harassing us over here.
Jackie- How have your political views changed since the beginning of the war?
Bob- I don't know that they have changed, but they have strengthened. We are the greatest country in the history of the world and that the men and women that represent ourselves out there that are fighting the war for us, are the greatest volunteer army that has ever been out there.
Nelson Leon
Chelsea-How did your day to day life change after 9-11
Nelson- It didn't really
Chelsea- What were your expectations
Nelson- Get in, kill people, get out, war's over. No, but seriously. When the war first began, I figured it would be a quick victory, I mean, he wasn't requesting much money at first. it was something like 7 billion dolars or something to begin with. We are the greatest country in the world. Iraq, who were they you know? just go and beat them up, get done with things you know?
Chelsea- How has the war affected you, your family, your job, etc. if at all?
Nelson- it hasn't affected me in any way so far. Until i get deployed and then probably my family will be devastated because i am probably going to die. yeah, and all that good stuff like that. My job. Haha, that’s funny . I am in the National Guard and I am going to be a medic. 91 Whiskey is my Mos. That’s cool sounding. That means that I am a healthcare specialist. It hasn’t affected me yet. Unless I get deployed, probably to Iraq. I am probably going to die, and my family will miss me.
Chelsea- NESLON!!!
Nelson- I want to die saving someone. I wanna go plugging their artery and I am going to get shot, and he is going to live, and he is going to remember me for the rest of their life.
Chelsea- You haven't mentioned that you were in the military yet.
Nelson- Oh, yeah, I'm in the national guard. I'm a medic and I ship out July 11th. and then I come back in February. So the war hasn’t affected me yet.
Chelsea- What are your thoughts on our current state in Iraq, and the current state our country is in: government, economics?
Nelson- Well I haven't been doing my econ homework, so I really wouldn't know [laughs]. yeah, I’m pretty behind in government too. but, I can't wait to go, and save some lives. and kick some butt. But I really wouldn’t know, I'm not up to date on my government homework. I just can’t wait to go
Chelsea- Why?
Nelson- Because it’s boring here. I would rather fight for my country, instead of sitting around here going to school. I can do that after I get back. Then I will have stories to tell my grandkids “when I was an old man……”
Chelsea- How have your political views changed since the beginning of the war?
Nelson- I really don't have specific political views. but I would have to say that I have had a Republican influence growing up, but throughout the course of the war, everything totally changed around. High school and my history teachers have changed my views. Mr. Schilling helped me out with that. Democrat all the way now.
Chelsea- Do you think that if the war wasn't happening, that you would still join the military?
Nelson- yeah definitely. My GI bill is incredible. I mean its paying for my college, I will be a fire fighter when I get out. And actually, I'm going to college at the same time that I am in the military so, it works out. I have so many benefits. I can use my military discount everywhere. And you know I Hop 50%! Haha, that’s enough for me to join. No but seriously, they are paying full tuition for college Santa Ana College, and then the college of my choice. All I have to do I sign my life away for 6 six years. Haha, whatever its cool. One weekend a month, 2 weeks in the summer. Unless I get deployed, then it’s however long that takes.
Chelsea- Has the course of the war and the things that have happened in our country and in Iraq changed your opinion about the war?
Nelson- Sure, I mean at first we had like 7 billion dollars, but then he asked for more money and asked for more money, and then more money. It’s getting kind of expensive. [laughs]. What was the question again? No I still support the war. It’s something that has to be done. A lot of people say that this isn't our war, well, people, know that they need to be free. I don’t believe that people. What was the question again? Ok so no not really.
Nelson- Sure, I mean at first we had like 7 billion dollars, but then he asked for more money and asked for more money, and then more money. It’s getting kind of expensive.
Andy Parsons
Shannon- How did your day-to-day life change, directly after the attacks?
Andy –Well I travel quite a bit in my career, so after that attack occurred, all air traffic suddenly stopped all over the country so a lot of the business commitments that I made had to be suddenly changed. So that was the most immediate affect it had from a practical point of view. But I remember looking at those planes crashing into those buildings and realizing that life as we had known it up to that point was going to change forever. And that we would never be able to have the same degree of freedom or the ability to move around without some degree of suspicion, particularly on aircrafts and I remember thinking how diabolical it was that someone had used civilian aircraft as weapons and how that something that we had taken for totally granted as a normal way to travel was taken away from us because we would always be under suspicion that we might be doing the same thing that those terrorists did. But uh, being able to move about freely was somewhat restricted for a long time after that and there was a lot of anxiety and free when you would go to the airport, wondering if you were gonna have somebody on the plane with you that was planning some similar kind of attack. So there was always a degree of suspicion and fear that was surrounding every business trip that I took, at least for the first year. So it really had a big impact s far as the ability to be able to travel and do my job. Even taking my family on vacation was something that I always felt, am I taking an unnecessary risk by doing that. So I guess in some respects, the intention they had to create fear around the country was successful for a while. But I also remember deciding that was not going to let those kind of people have an impact on my ultimate ability to live my life. So I decided to not let that bother me and to try to look at this a bit more philosophically and not let fear overcome the need to live our lives and so that’s the reason why I decided not to let it get me down too much. It also had an affect with on to day to day life with respect to just being at work and a lot of worries about people who might try to break into our building, and cause some damage or some kind if attack on our building. I remember the guards checking my badge when I drove into the driveway, which is ridiculous because they know me very well, but they were so freaked out after the attack that they were checking everybody’s badge just to see everybody who was going in there. So having to confront fear and overcome was certainly one of the biggest challenges we faced. I also knew people who were directly affected by this as well, I knew someone whose son was in the towers when it happened, fortunately he was able to escape. And I also have one of the people who works in my group who lives very near the trade center she went through a very traumatic time period when it was a very scary and very real reminder everyday when she looked over to where those towers used to be and she just saw smoke pouring out of the ground so I had a bit closer view of it than a lot of people did just because of a lot of the people that I know. And then I bet about 4 or 5 months after the attack I actually visited the ground zero site and saw with my own eyes the damage and destruction that had happened so it was a very sobering thing and it was something that shook people to the core I think when they saw what had happened.
Shannon- What were your expectations for the war in Iraq when it first began?
Andy- Well, I was extremely unhappy about the prospect of us going to war in Iraq, I was against it, I was very outspoken in my belief that it was a big mistake. I did not see any corrolation between what happened on Spet. 11th and what was going on in Iraq. I felt it was so obvious that the whole thing was largely contrived and I felt that we were being misled and I felt helpless because we had established a lot of capital, or credibility, or sympathy if you will, with countries